Chitradurga: The Bhadra Upper Project, a decades-old aspiration of people in Karnataka’s drought-prone central districts, moved a step closer to reality on Sunday with the trial release of water from the Bhadra reservoir into the Chitradurga branch canal.
Minister for Tribal Welfare and Chitradurga district in-charge minister T Raghumurthy formally launched the water release after performing a puja at the intake point of the Lakkavalli dam in Tarikere taluk of Chikkamagaluru district.
Describing the occasion as a historic milestone, Raghumurthy said the project represented the culmination of decades of efforts by farmers, seers, elected representatives and successive governments. He recalled the contributions of former chief minister late S M Krishna, former minister T B Jayachandra and others who had worked towards making the project a reality.
Under the project, 29.9 TMC of water has been allocated — 17.4 TMC from the Tunga and 12.5 TMC from the Bhadra. The project, whose estimated cost currently stands at ₹21,500 crore, is expected to benefit 12 taluks across Chikkamagaluru, Tumakuru, Chitradurga and Davangere districts.
The project aims to provide irrigation to around 2.25 lakh hectares and fill 367 lakes, providing a major boost to agriculture in the drought-prone region.
Raghumurthy said work on two towers associated with bringing 17.4 TMC of water from the Tunga is expected to be completed within the next two months, after which Tunga water is also expected to reach the region.
Cross-party support
Raghumurthy said the project had received support and funding at different stages under successive governments led by Dharam Singh, B S Yediyurappa, H D Kumaraswamy and Siddaramaiah.
The project cost, initially estimated at ₹2,814 crore, was subsequently revised to ₹5,500 crore, ₹12,500 crore and finally ₹21,500 crore in 2022. He said cooperation cutting across political lines had helped move the project forward.
Around ₹11,500 crore has been spent on the project so far, while work to fill lakes is under way. Raghumurthy said the state was still awaiting the ₹5,300 crore assistance announced by the Centre in the 2022-23 Budget, which, he said, could accelerate the remaining works.
CM’s role in removing hurdles
Raghumurthy credited Karnataka Chief Minister D K Shivakumar with helping resolve several hurdles faced by the project.
He said Shivakumar, during his tenure as water resources minister, had visited the site along with Tarikere MLA Srinivas and other elected representatives and held discussions with farmers to resolve issues.
He also credited Water Resources Minister N Chaluvarayaswamy’s cooperation for facilitating the water allocation aimed at benefiting the four drought-prone districts.
Raghumurthy said efforts were being made to complete the project by 2028 and urged all political parties and stakeholders to work together in the interest of farmers.
He said the water released into the Chitradurga branch canal is expected to reach Gonuru within a week. A large, non-partisan public meeting and felicitation programme would subsequently be organised in Chitradurga, inviting former chief ministers and leaders who contributed to the project, he said.
Several elected representatives and senior officials attended the programme, including T B Jayachandra, Srinivas, B G Govindappa, Dr M Chandrappa and K C Veerendra Pappy.